Demolition tool cradle



June 25, 1968 A. GRANT DEMOLITION TOOL CRADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 7, 1966 INVENTOR Louis A. Grant 5 fi yfi L. A. GRANT June 25, 1968DEMOLITION TOOL CRADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

Louis A. Grant I ,6

United States Patent 0 3,389,755 DEMOLITION TGQL CRADLE Louis A. Grant,7836 Saltsburg Road, Allegheny County, Pa. 15239 Filed Jan. 7, 1966,Ser. No. 51?,211 11 Claims. (Ci. 173-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE Acradle is disclosed for supporting a demolition tool upon a conventionaldemolition or excavating machine. The cradle is constructed forsecurance to the demolition machine boom structure in a variety of modesin order to allow a full range of angular adjustment of the cradlerelative to the boom structure. The cradle, according to the invention,is provided with a number of pivot structures and a number of actuatingrod connection means. By connecting the boom pivot and actuating rod toselected ones of the cradle pivots and rod connection means the cradleis capable of differing ranges of angular adjustments relative to theboom structure but can be manipulated in the usual manner fromconventional boom structure in each range of adjustment. Accordingly, afull range of angular adjustment can be attained without the provisionof specialized and complicated boom structure for supporting andmanipulating the tool cradle.

The present invention relates to a cradle for a demolition tool or thelike and more particularly to a cradle of the character described formounting, in pivoted fashion, on the free end of various types of boomstructures, especially of the extensible variety, such as are used inconnection with certain types of excavating, gradmg or similarcrawler-mounted apparatus.

The cradle disclosed hereinis also adapted for use with stationary orvehicular-mounted equipment used, for example, in steel mills forchipping the hardened residues from the floor structure of soaking pitsor for removing furnace linings from blast furnaces and the like. Whenso mounted the tool cradle of the character described is arranged forpivotal movement at the end of the aforementioned boom structure withina range of angular adjustment related to the longitudinal axis of theboom structure.

In known for-ms of tool cradles, however, the cons-tructure thereofprevented movement of the cradle within the full range of pivotalmovement otherwise available about the pivotal axis at the end of theboom structure. This resulted from the fact that a rectilinearlymoveable actuating rod, .or similar actuating means forming part of theboom structure for pivoting the cradle, must be connected to the toolcradle at a point radially displaced from the cradle pivot in order toeffect angular movement thereof. Thus, the range of angular movement waslimited not by the presence of the boom structure itself, whichotherwise would determine the full range of angular or pivotal cradledisplacement as the term will be used therein, but rather by thenecessary presence of the actuating rod and of cradle structure todisplace the rod connection with the cradle from the pivotal axis of thecradle, which forms in effect the actuating arm of the cradle. Withconventional tool cradles, the maximum angular adjustment, or pivotalmovement about the longitudinal axis of the boom, was limited to about120, whereas the full range of angular adjustment, as limited only bythe contour of the boom structure (without regard to its actuating rod)is in the neighborhood of 270-300.

The conventional arrangements of the tool cradles with their limitedangular movement relative to the aforementioned boom structurenecessitated frequent repositioning of the boom structure and, moreimportantly and difficult-1y, of the grading or excavating equipment, onwhich the boom structure is mounted. Moreover, the limited angular orpivotal movement of the conventional tool cradle frequently preventedmanipulating of the tool carried thereby for drilling or otherdemolition work in or to relatively inaccessible locations, for example,over or under an overhanging ledge, through wall openings, or the like.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing :ademolition tool cardle so constructed that it can be mounted in a numberof pivoted positions relative to the boom structure in a manner so as toobtain the aforesaid full range of angular or pivoted movement of thecradle relative to the longitudinal axis of the boom structure. This isaccomplished by the disclosed tool cradle which is provided with aunique arrangement of pivotal mounting and activating arm means wherebythe cradle can be variously mounted to obtain a complete full range ofpivotal movement in the manner described. In furtherance of this purposethe cradle comprises a pair of spaced generally parallel supportingribs, a tool supporting and guiding super-structure mounted on thesupporting ribs, a plurality of pivot means associated with thesupporting ribs for pivotally joining the cradle to the foresaid boomstructure or the like and a plurality .of activating arm means alsoassociated with the supporting ribs, with each of operating arm meansbeing associatable with one or more of the pivot means, whereby theactuating rod or the like of the aforementioned boom structure can bejoined to a selected one of the actuating arm means to obtain a selectedrange of angular adjustment of the tool cradle and the total or fullrange of angular adjustment available with the novel tool cradle isattained through use of the various combinations of pivot and actuatingarm means, thus made available. In certain arrangements of the inventionthe aforementioned pivotal means are employed additionally for joiningand strengthening the su porting rib structure of the cradle.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbe elaborated upon during the forthcoming detailed description ofcertain presently preferred embodiments of the invention, together withcertain presently preferred methods of practicing the same wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front top and right side isometric view of one form oftool cradle arranged in accordance with the teaching of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the tool cradle illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the cradle as shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a right side elevational view of the tool cradle as shown inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinally sectional view of the cradle shown inFIGURE 2 and taken along reference line 5'5 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cradle shown in FIGURE 2 andtaken along reference line 6-6 thereof;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view, partially sectioned, of another form ofcradle for a demolition tool or the like and taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE8 and arranged in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a right side elevational view of the tool cradle illustratedin FIGURE 7; and

FIGURES 911 are a left side elevational view of the tool cradle as shownin FIGURES 7 and 8, and operatively connected to boom structure foractuation thereby, said figures respectively showing various ranges ofangular adjustment within the full range of angular displacement of thecradle relative to the boom structure for differing modes of connectionof the cradle to the boom structure, as in accordance with theinvention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 6 of the drawings the exemplary form ofthe invention illustrated therein includes a pair of spaced generallyparallel supporting ribs 10 and a tool supporting and guidedsuper-structure designated generally by reference character 12 andsecured to the upper edges of the supporting ribs as better shown inFIGURES l, 2 and 4 of the drawings. The tool sup porting super-structure12 includes a bed plate 14 having an elongated, axially extendingopening 16 therein for the purpose of accommodating the under-bellyportion of the demolition tool 22, as better shown in FIGURE 6 of thedrawings.

At the ends respectively of the bed plate opening 16 hearing plates 18and 20 are secured, as by welding, on which a demolition tool or thelike, such as a pneumatic hammer or chipper 22 is supported as bettershown in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURES and 6, the demolition tool 22 is secured in place bypairs of lock plates 24 and 26 mounted respectively adjacent the longsides of the opening 16 and extending generally parallel thereto. Thebottom lock plates 24 are arranged to abut the free or outer lateraledges of mounting flanges 28 of the demolition tool. On the other hand,the top lock plates 26 are arranged to overlie the first-mentioned lockplates and the adjacent lateral edge portions of the mounting flanges 28to secure the demolition tool 22 to the bed plate 14. When thuspositioned the lock plates 24 and 26 together with the mounting flanges28 of the demolition tool are secured in place by a number of mountingbolts 30.

Adjacent the forward end of the bed plate 14 is a stabilizing bracket orsaddle 32 mounted in order to lend additional support to the demolitiontool at a point adjacent the forward end of its body portion, where thechipper or other bit 34 is secured. The saddle 32 includes a base plate36 whereby the saddle 32 is joined to the bed plate 14 and an invertedU-shaped strap 38 the bight portion of which engages the adjacent topsurface of the demolition tool for the purpose just described.

Forwardly of the stabilizing saddle 32, a bit guide 40 is secured to thefront edge of the bed plate 14, in this example. The guide 40 includesan upstanding supporting plate 42 having a tubular bearing member 44extending therethrough, through which the bit 34 protrudes forreciprocating movement. In this arrangement, the lower edge of theupright plate 42 is notched as designated by reference character 46 inorder particularly to receive the front ends respectively of thesupporting ribs 10, as better shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

As shown in FIGURE 4 the securance of the tool supporting andstabilizing super-structure 12 to the supporting ribs is rigidized by anumber of gussets 48 secured to the under surface of the bed plate 14and to the supporting ribs 10. Although FIGURE 4 illustrates four suchgussets secured to each supporting rib 10 and to the adjacentundersurface of the bed plate 14, it will be understood that a greateror lesser number of gussets can be employed depending on the givenapplication of the invention. The gussets 48 can be secured in themanner described, as by welding, as are a number of connecting andstiffening plates 50, 52 and 54 which extend normally between thesupporting ribs 10 and are rigidly joined along their lateral edges tothe adjacent surfaces respectively thereof. The size and disposition ofthe plates 50- 54 can be varied depending upon the application of theinvention, but generally speaking are disposed for optimum absorption ofthe forces transmitted to the cradle by operation of the demolition tool22, and equipment on which the tool 22 and cradle are mounted, and by,movements of the cradle about its pivot means 56 or 58 induced by asuitable activating rod (FIGURES 9-11) associated with theaforementioned boom structure and secured to the rod connection means 69or 62.

In one arrangement of the invention, the aforementioned cradle pivotmeans 56, 58 take the form of a pair of tubular members extendingtransversely through the supporting ribs 10 and each having a pair ofbearing sur' faces 64 formed respectively at the ends thereof, the innerextremities of which are defined by spacing collars 66. In onearrangement of the invention the bearing surfaces 64 project outwardlyand laterally of the supporting and stabilizing structure 12 to permitclamp members (not shown) associated with the aforementioned boomstructure to clear the cradle in certain positions thereof.

The aforementioned actuating rod connections take the form of reinforcedapertures means, with a pair of such means 60, 62 being formed in eachsupporting rib 10. The aperture means 60 and 62 encircled at the innersurfaces of the supporting ribs by annular reenforcing members 68. Theaperture means 60 are aligned transversely of the ribs 10, as are theaperture means 62. In this example the pivot means 56, 58 and the rodconnection means 60, 62 are arranged in an alternating array, and atleast one of each are mounted in the rearwardly projecting portions ofthe rib plates 10 to facilitate connection of the boom structurethereto.

As better shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings, each of tubularpivot members 56, 58 are reinforced by gussets 70 secured, as bywelding, to the outwardly projecting but non-bearing surfaces of thepivot members 56, 58 and to the adjacent outer surfaces of thesupporting ribs 10.

With the arrangement, as described more fully below in connection withFIGURES 9 to 11, the aperture means 62 define an operating arm forconnection as aforesaid to the actuating rod 90 of the boom structure,for use with the tubular pivot means 58, while the aperture means 60 inthis example define a longer or shorter actuating arm of the cradle whenused with the tubular pivots 56 or 58, respectively. The particularcombination of pivot means 56 or 58 with a selected one of theaforementioned actuating arms determines the selected mode of connectionof the cradle to the boom structure and that portion of the full rangeof angular adjustment relative thereto of which the cradle by itsseveral modes of connection is capable.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, where similarreference characters with primed accents refer to similar components ofFIGURES 1-6, another exemplary form of the invention is illustratedtherein. The tool cradle of FIGURES 7 and 8 is generally similar inconstruction to that described heretofore in connection with FIGURES1-6, with the exception that the tubular pivot members 58 and 56 arereplaced in the arrangement of FIGURES 7 and 8 by reinforced pivotaperture means 72 and 74 respectively. Each of the pivot apertures 72 or74 respectively is reinforced by an annular reinforcing member 76,having the same inner diameter as that of the pivot apertures. In thisarrangement the reinforcing annuli 76 are welded to the respective outersurfaces of the supporting ribs 10' as better shown in FIGURE 7 of thedrawings.

In the arrangement of FIGURES 7 and 8 the demolition tool cradle isadapted for use with a boom structure terminating in a removable pivotpin, while the tool cradle arrangement of FIGURES 1-6 is adapted for usewith a boom structure terminating in a pair of clamp members forreleasably engaging respectively the terminal bearing surfaces 64 of thetubular pivot member 56 or 58.

With reference to FIGURES 9-11 of the drawings, the operation of theinvention will be described now. FIGURES 9-11 illustrate alternative,selectable modes of joining a tool cradle, such as that shown in FIGURES7 and 8, to a boom structure 78, which in turn can be pivotally mountedon a suitable stationary or vehicular supported base (not shown) bymeans of its clevis or eyebracket 80. In the illustrative application asshown the boom structure 78 includes a base member 82 and an extensiblemember 84 mounted for reciprocating movement within the base member andterminating in an apertured pivot connection including spaced brackets,through which pivot pin 88 can be inserted.

FIGURE 9 of the drawings illustrates an intermediate range of angularadjustment of the tool cradle about the pivot pin 88, when the toolcradle is mounted in a disposition such that the pin 88 is insertedthrough pivot apertures 72 thereof, and the conventional actuating rod90 of the boom structure in pinned or otherwise connected to the rodapertures 62. In FIGURE 9 the solid outline of the demolition toolcradle illustrates the upper limit of angular displacement of thecradle, while the dashed outline thereof indicates the lower limit ofcradle displacement, for this mode of connection.

FIGURE 10 of the drawings illustrates another mode of connecting thetool cradle to the boom structure 78. In the latter arrangement theextensible boom extremity 84 is pivotally connected to the pivotaperture 74 of the tool cradle while the actuating rod 90 is joined tothe rod apertures 60 thereof. In the latter arrangement the cooperativeassociation of the pivot apertures 74 and the rodtconnection apertures60' yields the lower range of angular adjustment of the tool cradle withthe lower reentrant or innermost limit thereof illustrated by the solidoutlines of the cradle while the lower outer limit is indicated by thedashed outlines thereof.

In the arrangement as shown in FIGURE 11 the tool cradle is turned overor reversed relative to its position as shown in FIGURE 9 and theextensible boom member 84 is again connected to the pivot apertures 72.Owing to the reversed relationship of the cradle, however, the actuatingrod 90 is connected to the rod apertures 60' rather than to apertures62', thereby providing a different efiective'operating arm for thecradle, extending between the rod connecting apertures 60 and the pivotapertures 72 rather than between the rod connection apertures 62 and thepivot apertures 72 as is the case in FIGURE 9 of the drawings. Thelatter mode of connection provides an upper reentrant or innermost limitof cradle movement illustrated by the solid outlines thereof and anupper outward limit of cradle movement denoted by the dashed outlinethereof.

A comparison of FIGURES 9 to 11 indicate some overlappage near theextremities of the intermediate range of angular adjustment (FIGURE 9)with the lower range of adjustment (FIGURE 10) and the upper range ofadjustment (FIGURE 11) respectively. Such overlappage ensures completecoverage of the work area throughout the full range of pivotal movement,afforded by the several modes of connection of the demolition toolcradle, at a given position of the boom structure 78, as for examplewhere the boom structure and the demolition tool cradle are insertedthrough an opening or aperture of a size which would limit or preventaltogether any movement of the boom structure itself.

With the tool cradle arrangements disclosed herein the full range ofangular adjustment of the tool cradle is limited, as pointed out in thepreliminary paragraphs hereto, substantially only by the boom structureitself. With the tool cradle of the invention, moreover, other modes ofconnection to the boom structure are possible depending upon theapplication of the invention and the structural contour of the terminaljoining or crandle pivot means of the boom structure. For example, byfurther laterally displacing the pivot brackets 86 of the boomstructure, in order to provide the necessary clearance for the actuatingrod 90, the latter rod can be joined to the rod connection apertures 62,and the pivot aperture 74 of the tool cradle can be joined asillustrated in FIGURE 10 in order to provide a longer moment arm forpivoting the crandle about the terminus of the boom structure, whereadditional pivoting force is required either from the character of workbeing done or the type of tool carried on the cradle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that novel and efiicient forms ofcradles for demolition tools and the like have been disclosed herein.While there have been shown and described certain presently preferredembodiments of the invention together with preferred methods ofpracticing the same, it is to be distinctly understood that theinvention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodiedand practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tool supporting cradle comprising elongated supporting rib means, atool supporting and stabilizing structure secured to said rib means andextending along the length thereof, a plurality of pivot connectionmeans and a plurality of actuating rod connecting means coupled inspaced array to said supporting rib means, whereby said cradle can becoupled in a variety of modes to external boom structure for a fullrange of angular adjustment relative thereto.

2. The combination according to claim 1 characterized in that saidsupporting rib means protrudes longitudinally outwardly beyond the endof said stabilizing structure, and at least one of said pivotconnections means and at least one of said rod connection means arecoupled in said protruding supporting rib means portions.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means andsaid rod connection means are disposed in an alternated and staggeredarray in said supporting rib means.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means andsaid rod connection means are apertures respectively extendingtransversely through said supporting rib means.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot meanscomprise a pair of spaced tubular bearing members secured to said ribmeans and extending transversely therethrough.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said supporting ribmeans are a pair of spaced generally parallel supporting rib platesextending generally longitudinally of said stabilizing structure andeach having a lateral edge secured thereto, and said pivot means andsaid rod connection means are each a pair of apertures formedrespectively in said rib plates and transversely aligned therein.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rib means are apair of spaced generally parallel rib plates extending longitudinally ofsaid supporting structure and each having a lateral edge joined thereto,and said pivot means are a pair of spaced tubular bearing membersextending transversely through said rib plates, each of said bearingmembers being rigidly joined to each of said rib plates to aid inmaintaining the spaced relationship therebetween.

8. The combination according to claim 6 characterized further in thateach of said apertures is reinforced by an annular reinforcing membersecured thereabout in alignment therewith.

9. The combination according to claim 7 wherein a pair of bearingsurfaces are formed at the ends respectively of each of said tubularmembers, a pair of collar members are secured to each of said tubularmembers at the inward extremities respectively of the bearing surfacesthereof, the bearing surfaces of each of said tubular members beingspaced outwardly of said rib plates respectively, and gusset plates aresecured to the outwardly protruding but non-bearing portions of each ofsaid tubular members and to the adjacent outer surfaces of each of saidrib plates respectively.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said stabilizingstructure includes an upstanding apertured bit-guiding bracket affixedto the forward end thereof, a clamping saddle for engaging a bodyportion of a demolition tool holding said bit and mounted on saidstabilizing structure, said saddle being disposed adjacent said bracketin longitudinal alignment therewith, and clamping means secured to saidstabilizing structure rearwardly of said saddle for clamping a mountingflange of said tool.

11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot connectionmeans and said actuating rod connection means are so arranged withrespect to one another that said cradle can be selectively disposedrelative to said external boom structure in tool upright and toolinverted positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Osgood 308-39 Lovell 74-522 Grant173-43 Hallberg 308-3 Buehler 173-43 Thompson 248-16 Grant 17343 XERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

MILTON KAUFMAN, Examiner.

15 L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner.

